At 54, Flic Everett experienced a financial wake-up call after a series of setbacks forced her to confront a lifetime of bad money habits. She reveals how a large tax bill and soaring cost of living led her to re-evaluate her spending and embrace a more frugal approach.
At 54, Flic Everett was forced to confront a lifetime of bad money habits - and start enjoying a more frugal approach
It was, effectively, a phobia, but rather than tackling the root causes, it was easier to pay my accountant fortunes to deal with my tax issues, and work hard enough to ensure a freelance writing income that would allow me to indulge my book and charity-shop habits, along with rent, bills , gifts and occasional restaurants.My husband Andy and I had paid for our 2022 wedding without borrowing any money.
Back in January, one weary Sunday evening after I’d spent all weekend photographing unwanted clothes to list on Vinted in the hope of making a few pounds, I realised something had to change. I could no longer indulge my deep-rooted habit of trawling charity shops for £30 hauls in the belief that I was saving money. I couldn’t see a small payment come in and immediately book a table at the local Italian restaurant to celebrate no longer being destitute.
I then allowed myself two 99p Kindle books a week, rather than the nightly “ooh, that looks interesting” spendathon. I also used the library app, Borrowbox, and learned to wait my turn for books I really wanted to read. I sorted my clothes out and realised I really don’t have room for any more – so I instigated a “one in one out” policy which I’ve largely stuck to. And I swapped my mindless eBay bidding for playing free games on my phone instead.
Personal Finance Frugal Living Money Management Cost Of Living Financial Literacy
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